Think twice before leaving job that’s a poor fit

Originally published August 6, 2014 at 10:19 am
Updated January 4, 2016 at 10:21 am

Like many people, you selected a position which matched your personality, only to see it morph into something entirely different.

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By Marie G. McIntyre

Tribune News Service

Q:Let me just say that I hate working with the public. When I took this job, my manager said I would be doing data entry and filing. Since then, however, I have been assigned to work the front desk several times a week. I love entering data and don’t mind filing, but I despise dealing with the rude, pushy people who come into this office.

I must be a good actress, because my manager always says I’m great with customers. I’ve never told him that they drive me absolutely crazy. To get away from all this interaction, I’m thinking about taking a course in medical coding or billing. Does that sound like a good plan?

A: Like many people, you selected a position which matched your personality, only to see it morph into something entirely different. While some folks might actually prefer difficult customers to a steady diet of data, the change has obviously made this job a bad fit for you.

You are certainly to be commended for making an effort to treat visitors well despite your strong negative feelings. That’s not an easy act to pull off. But even if no one ever notices the pent-up anger behind your surface cordiality, maintaining that charade has to be exhausting.

The stress of feeling one way and acting another is not sustainable, so you’re wise to start looking for a less interactive job. But before shelling out cash for a training course, take the time to explore a variety of options. In the rush to escape a bad work situation, people often make impulsive decisions that they later come to regret.